Yours truly isn’t much of a contester. I always preferred quality, than quantity. However, last week-end offered an opportunity not to be missed. The IARU HF Championship was open to hams all over the world, its goal being always the same: the one who makes more QSO wins. There is a particularity, making this contest unique: each nation has one (or several) HQ station(s), active in different modes and bands, ran by the national hams association. When would you have a chance to work the whole Europe in just a couple hours? I’d say it’s rare, and it’s also a nice chance to give your set-up some testing. So, I gladly launched myself into the on the air struggle. No particular goals, no incredible expectations. First was to have fun, second to allow IX1 area to be worked by others operators. I ended up working some 24 HQ stations: basically all the Europeans ones (less Switzerland, Holland and Denmark), plus LR6F in Argentina, and some other contesters, for a final log of 43 QSOs, on 40 and 15 meters. It’s true we’re speaking, in the HQ case, about “dream stations” (i.e. it’s them who hear you, thanks to their five stars set-up), but I have to admit I was surprised once more about the 10 mt. fishing rod performance (and I went on the air with less than 50 Watt!). Log, as witnessed by the picture above, has been already sent. I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the last ranks of the Italian classification. I don’t care. IX1 will be ranked, and that’s what mattered to me. In the last week-end, in my opinion, those who’ve been on the air are all world champions. Of the best hobby the world itself has ever seen.

73,
Chris

You know that, when time allows, further than trying to keep yourselves updated with my radio-activities, I borrow my pen to the friends at DXCoffee.com (a great bunch of people, who’s trying to offer readers a new perspective on DXing). In the story that went online today, I go down the road that led to my “Les Chevaliers des ondes” tv reportage, about hams in Switzerland (I’m sure many of you logged HE3OM, during their “February test”) and in my Valley. Regional tv aired it last may, but you can get a breathe of how it’s been by reading the story. Thanks in advance!

73,
Chris

The kinda Roger Waters "The Wall" era title for this post means tests of the fishing rod are still underway. I couldn't be more sincere: I'm really pleased with the results. And this apply also for frequencies where I didn't think it would perform that much. July is not at all season for tropical bands, but last wendesday I decided to give a try to the lower spectrum portion. I've honestly been surprised by the performance. Hear for yourselves what were Radio Clube do Para, from Brazil, on 4885 kHz, and Radio Sonder Grense, on 3320 kHz, from Republic of South Africa. If the former can be considered a regular for its channel (and if you don't hear it, you can switch off radio, and put on pay tv), latter is not an habitué at the rendez-vous with propagation. For what my short experience counts, I had never heard it so consistent. Tests will go on. As Roger taught us, there is no second part without a third one. Stay tuned!

73,
Chris

As I mentioned in one of the earlier posts, thanks to the help of dear friend and (radio) partner in crime R., I’m currently testing a new antenna. It’s mainly intended for amateur radio use, and be aware it’s not classed in the “close encounters of the third kind” file. However, it’s a simple “entry level” solution giving interesting results, even because being vertical it doesn’t require the space that a dipole, a long wire, or a Windom (this one remaining in my aim, tho’) would require.

Someone will already have understood I’m talking about something a lot of people seems to discover lately. I’ve been told that at Friedrichshafen 2011, four different stalls were selling projects recalling themselves to that formula. Ladies and Gentlemen, the fishing rod. Basically, you get a 10 meters long fishing rod (but the original project features a 7 meters), you have a wire passing internally, and at its base you place a 1:4 balun. Add coaxial from balun to the radio (with the center connected to the wire in the pole) and, as a first step, you’re done.

That way, it works. Obviously, due to its length, to have it matching on all amateur bands, you need an antenna tuner. That way, it can be brought under swr 1:5 on each ham segment. Fact is that, if you’re transmitting, in this configuration you risk an RF feedback, which can damage seriously your transceiver. To neutralize it, you can work on a couple things: a) provide grounding to the balun SO-239 socket; b) place an RF choke along the coaxial descending to the rig. That way, you should improve the rod performance.

About being received, we’ll talk another time. In terms of reception, I have to say the fishing pole changed in a significant way my spectrum panorama. It’s not that signals missed by the “Mini-Whip” are now heard, but many stations that were just noted with low audio, or loosing themselves in the noise, became now much clearer. In a word, readable, and that opens a quite new season to my BC DX chasing. As an example, hear for yourselves what was Radio Inconfidencia from Brazil (usually low, or at least just recognizable as “portuguese talk”), last Saturday 2nd July, on 15190 kHz at 20.57 UTC. Enjoy!

73,
Chris

You'll forgive me being silent in the last days. I'm testing a new antenna (with interesting results, as you'll soon read). However, today it was a special Sunday, with a double SAQ transmission planned., and this deserves to be shared You surely know we're talking about the Alexander Generator station in Grimeton, Sweden. One of the last starring characters of VLF aiming radio enthousiasts (everything else left is strategical). Probably due to the fact I'm not owning the best set-up for such low frequencies reception, this station gave me hard times in the past. On the last Christmas transmission (that's when they usually activate the mastodontic generator) I wasn't able to receive at all their signal. Today, however, NRD-525 and "Mini-whip" did the trick: they came in pretty strong both times, at 9.00 and 12.00 UTC. Tuning of the generator started quite in advance, and it' has been a double pleasure either to receive a signal coming from quite far on 17.2 kHz and hearing so classy hand-keyed CW. A short evidence is in the video above. Reception reports will be accepted for today's broadcast, both via e-mail and standard letter. So, you can easily guess what will be my next step, as I miss confirmation from this station so far!

73,
Chris

BCLing isn't, at least in my opinion, about self-medalling, especially when it comes to QSLing. However, if your ears (and eyes)  are on the spectrum since a bit of time, you realize when you achieve an uncommon result.  Verifications wise, transmitting stations who relay, around the world, programmes from big broadcasters usually have shown a strict policy. All reports have to be confirmed (and consequently, are forwarded there) from the main station, not from the transmitting post. VOA, and other US Government "sponsored" shortwave transmissions (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Sawa, RadioFarda) are run by IBB, International Broadcasting Bureau. (while BBC ones are under VT Communications control). Udonthani station, in Thailand, despite the general policy, answered my report (sent directly to an e-mail address found on WRTH 2010, and concerning a Radio Sawa broadcast on the 15 MHz band) with a nice card depicting the relay station itself. Very glad of this one, as the card is nice, and it comes from the place where the broadcast has been aired, not from a secretary using an Excel grid (and not an audio archive) to confirm reports. Many of those relays, following the general HF dismissal trend, may be switched off soon. Try to confirm as many of them as you can before they're gone. It's a broadcasting era that will be over.

73,
Chris